"P.L. Travers & Mary Poppins" painting

Artist: Vera Smirnova
Medium: Acrylic and tempera on paper (framed)
Dimensions: 16" x 20"

Description:
This imaginative black-and-white portrait presents author P.L. Travers as a contemplative young woman, seated amidst a dense swirl of foliage and crowned with laurel leaves. Fairy-like wings extend from her back, evoking a sense of whimsy and mystery—qualities woven deeply into her literary legacy. Behind her, the unmistakable silhouette of Mary Poppins floats through the sky, umbrella in one hand and carpet bag in the other. The composition cleverly blurs the lines between creator and creation: Travers remains grounded and earthly, while her most iconic character soars as a dark and distant figure, almost like a memory or specter of imagination. Rich in symbolic tension and artistic grace, this piece explores the inner world of a woman whose work gave flight to magic.